CrowdScience

BBC World Service

We take your questions about life, Earth and the universe to researchers hunting for answers at the frontiers of knowledge.

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504 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes504

Newest first

Jan 24, 2025 · 27 min
How high can birds fly?
What altitude can birds cope with, and which species soars highest?
Jan 17, 2025 · 28 min
Which animal has the biggest carbon footprint?
Humans emit far too much planet-warming carbon, but what about other species?
Jan 10, 2025 · 32 min
Is beer better without alcohol?
How does non-alcoholic beer differ from the original - and is it better for us?
Jan 3, 2025 · 26 min
Why am I embarrassed when I fall?
Falling can be serious – so why do we find it embarrassing or even funny?
Dec 27, 2024 · 26 min
I didn’t know that!
Did you know that flies fly in rectangles and fish hide by lighting themselves up?
Dec 20, 2024 · 26 min
Will the Earth ever lose its Moon?
Anand Jagatia is joined by a panel of experts to answer listener questions about the Moon
Dec 13, 2024 · 29 min
Why does pain sometimes feel good?
What makes people seek out unpleasant or painful sensations, like eating chilli?
Dec 7, 2024 · 32 min
Why am I good at jigsaw puzzles?
What skills do you need to complete a jigsaw puzzle? And why do we enjoy them?
Nov 29, 2024 · 29 min
Can I improve my sense of direction?
Why some people get lost while others have a great sense of where they are
Nov 22, 2024 · 28 min
Why can't my dog live as long as me?
And how do some animals tackle the ageing process head on?
Nov 15, 2024 · 31 min
What does my voice say about me?
What shapes the sound of your voice? And is everybody’s voice unique?
Nov 8, 2024 · 30 min
Why is my house getting sunnier?
A mysterious shift in sunshine through one listener’s window requires investigation
Nov 1, 2024 · 29 min
Why do some mushrooms glow?
We explore the mysterious phenomenon of bioluminescence
Oct 25, 2024 · 26 min
Why do languages fade from us?
Can learning multiple languages make us forget our native tongue?
Oct 18, 2024 · 26 min
Why do my armpits smell?
Deodorant hasn’t been around forever, so is there any evolutionary reason for body odour?
Oct 11, 2024 · 32 min
What's the fairest voting system?
Is there a perfect way to elect politicians?
Oct 9, 2024 · 26 min
Why don’t sunflowers fall over?
With huge heads on spindly stalks, how do sunflowers defy gravity to stay standing?
Sep 27, 2024 · 30 min
How did the Moon affect the dinosaurs?
The Moon was once much closer to Earth. How did its gravity affect a dinosaur’s weight?
Sep 20, 2024 · 29 min
Are we mature by 18?
Why is 18 considered the start of adulthood in many places? Does science back this up?
Sep 13, 2024 · 39 min
Is the car an apex predator?
The car is a killer but does that make it top of the food chain?